State v. Costanzo

Feb 19, 1993
S-90-912
Versions:495 N.W.2d 904
242 Neb. 478
1993 Neb. LEXIS 54
Fahrnbruch, J.

On December 16, 1986, Ricky J. Costanzo was found guilty of assault in the first degree by a Douglas County District Court jury. He received an indeterminate sentence of 5 to 10 years’ imprisonment. Costanzo’s conviction and sentence were affirmed by this court on February 12,1988. State v. Costanzo, 227 Neb. 616, 419 N.W.2d 156 (1988).

Thereafter, Costanzo filed a petition seeking (1) a new trial because of newly discovered evidence and (2) postconviction relief because of alleged (a) ineffectiveness of counsel, (b) failure by the State to disclose exculpatory evidence, and (c) prosecutor misconduct. In State v. Costanzo, 235 Neb. 126, 454 N.W.2d 283 (1990), this court affirmed the trial court’s denial of the defendant’s motion for new trial. We did, however, reverse the trial court’s denial of postconviction relief and remand that issue to the trial court for findings of fact and conclusions of law. Upon remand, the trial court, after making findings of fact and conclusions of law, again denied Costanzo postconviction relief, which ruling Costanzo has appealed to this court.

At oral argument on appeal to this court, Costanzo *479 acknowledged that he had been imprisoned on the assault charge, that he had been paroled and subsequently had been discharged from parole, and that he was no longer in the State’s custody. Because of these facts, Costanzo’s appeal has become moot.

Costanzo instituted his postconviction action pursuant to the Nebraska Postconviction Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-3001 etseq. (Reissue 1989). This court has held that “the Nebraska Postconviction Act, §§ 29-3001 et seq., requires that a prisoner seeking relief under the act must be in actual custody in Nebraska under a Nebraska sentence.” State v. Harper, 233 Neb. 841, 843, 448 N.W.2d 407, 408 (1989). Accord State v. Whitmore, 234 Neb. 557, 452 N.W.2d 31 (1990).

Since Costanzo is no longer in actual custody in Nebraska under a Nebraska sentence, his appeal is moot and must be dismissed.

Appeal dismissed.